I am back again this season with this article. A 2016 look at the TV schedule and how many OTA NASCAR races we got vs what was airing on TV on all 4 major local channels. I wanted to do this article again due to the Summer Olympics being live live live from Rio this year. I also wound up this year handing out one extra grade from last year as the Summer Olympics gave me a can’t miss writeup.
2016 TV listings.
Race 0–Opening season race.
FOX–Sprint Unlimited RACE
ABC–Repeats including How To Get Away With Murder And 20/20
CBS–48 hours and GOP Presidential debate.
NBC–Dateline NBC Repeat and SNL
Fox aired race and that is all that mattered. CBS did have new stuff including the debate which is nice to see.
Race 1–Daytona
FOX–Sprint Cup Race
NBC–Hockey
CBS–Bull Riding, NCAA Basketball, PGA Golf
ABC–NBA Basketball
FOX aired the race and that is all that mattered. ALL 4 networks aired sports and that is a good thing.
Race 2 –Atlanta
NBC–Hockey and Golf
CBS–Bull Riding and NCAA Basketball
ABC–OSCARS stuff in LA
Fox–NASCAR Race
Fox aired the race and that is all that matters. With Oscars on ABC gets a pass on Sports Coverage. Other networks aired sports so I am fine with that.
Race 3–Las Vegas
NBC–Golf And Rugby
CBS–NCAA Basketball
ABC–NBA Basketball
FOX–NASCAR Racing
Fox aired the race while all four networks had sports coverage and that is all that matters.
Race 4–Phoenix
NBC–Hockey And Golf
CBS–NCAA Basketball
ABC–Indy Car Racing and NBA Basketball
Fox–NASCAR Racing.
Fox aired the race while all four networks had sports coverage and that is all that matters. Nice to see ABC some racing.
Race 5–California
NBC–Soccer and Golf
CBS–NCAA Basketball
ABC–What every they wanted
FOX–NASCAR Race
Fox aired the race while everyone else but ABC aired something. That is just SAD ABC could have not aired an NBA game.
Race 6–Martinsville
NBC–Hockey and Golf
CBS–Bull Riding, High School along with NCAA basketball
ABC–NBA Basketball
FOX–What every they wanted.
This just BLOWS! A race that used to get aired on FOX is now stuck on cable while FOX airs nothing. A total fail.
Race 7–Texas
NBC– Dateline repeat and SNL
CBS — Repeats and New 48 hours
ABC — NBA Basketball
Fox Sports –NASCAR Race
FOX aired the Saturday night race and that is all that matters. ABC aired sports while NBC and CBS had typical Saturday night TV.
Race 8–Bristol
NBC–AVP Volleyball and Hockey
CBS–Bull Riding and PGA golf
ABC–NBA basketball
Fox– NASCAR Race
All networks aired sports and that is all that matters.
Race 9–Richmond
NBC–Hockey
CBS–Skating and Golf
ABC–Basketball
FOX–NASCAR Race
Another week and another race aired on FOX which is great. CBS aired a rare skating event which is nice.
Race 10–Talladega
NBC–Surfing and Hockey
CBS–Golf
ABC–NBA Basketball
FOX–NASCAR Race
All networks aired sports and that is all that mattered.
Race 11–Kansas
NBC–Hockey
CBS–Criminal Minds repeat and new 48 hours
ABC–NBA Basketball
FOX– American Grit along with a Houdini & Doyle repeat
This was a Saturday night race that somehow had to air on FS1, but as we all know the FS1 baseball game went late like last year but race coverage was on Fox Business News instead of Fox News like last year. This is a total travesty that should never happen.
Race 12–Dover
NBC–Soccer and Golf
CBS—Bull Riding
ABC–Invictus Games and NBA Basketball
Fox—Whatever they wanted
This is just a pure travesty. The third race of the year that could have aired on FOX, but it does not.
Race 13–All Star Race
NBC–Horse Race and Hockey
CBS– NEW 48 Hours
ABC–Toy Story and 20/20
FOX–MLB
Well at least Fox did air sports, but, the All Star Event coverage started the same time as Baseball coverage. Still could have been an OTA race.
Race 14–Charlotte
NBC–Carmichael Show and American Ninja Warrior
CBS–Repeats and a new 60 minutes
ABC–Harry Potter Movie
Fox–NASCAR Race
Well Fox did air the race while it was fully loaded day of racing including the Indy 500 and Monaco race
Race 15–Pocono
NBC–Gymnastics and Rugby
CBS–Golf
ABC–Indy Car Racing
Fox–Soccer
Well at least Fox did air some sporting event this week. Could have aired over the OTA.
Race 16–Michigan
NBC–Live F1 Racing from Canada And LPGA golf
CBS–Golf
ABC–Whatever they wanted
Fox–What every they wanted.
THIS just fully blows. NBC can air a race, but FOX can’t!?!?!? Total Travesty.
Race 17–Sonoma
NBC–VolleyBall and Olympic qualifying coverage
CBS–Golf
ABC–Whatever they wanted
Fox–What every they wanted.
Two races in a row FOX does not air the race!?!?!?! NO!!!!
10 Aired
5 no air
2 Aired other sporting event at same time as NASCAR.
To sum up the FOX lineup they get an F grade. 10 races aired which is the same as last year and 5 races just like last year wind up getting dumped with nothing getting aired. At least this year no races were changing networks.
Race 18–Daytona
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS– New Angel from Hell and 48 hours
ABC–New People’s List and 20/20: in an instant
FOX–MLB
All four networks had something new including CBS who is running off remaining new episodes of a cancelled show. Great start for NBC.
Race 19–Kentucky
NBC–New Olympics Trials and a repeat of the Ninja Warrior show.
CBS–New Angel from Hell and new 48 Hours
FOX–MLB Baseball
ABC–People’s list and 20/20 in an instant.
At least all networks aired something new although the race could have been aired on NBC.
20–New Hampshire
NBC–Golf and Volleyball
CBS–LPGA Golf
FOX–MLS Soccer
ABC–Whatever it wanted
Well at least NBC had live sports coverage where NASCAR would never be in its place. CNBC though had to air live Indy Car coverage though which is great.
Race 21–Indy
NBC–Tour De France and American Century Championship
CBS–PGA Golf
ABC–Whatever they wanted again
FOX–NHRA Drag Racing
Well NBC is airing sports which is not a bad thing, but it is not NASCAR again. FOX did air some racing which is different.
Race 22–Pocono
NBC –LPGA Golf, Dew Tour, Horse Racing
CBS–PGA Golf
ABC–Whatever they wanted yet again
FOX–NHRA Drag Racing
Well NBC is airing is airing loads of different sports again, but not NASCAR once again. FOX again shows up with some racing coverage.
Race 23–Watkins Glen
NBC –Olympics
CBS–PGA Golf
ABC–Whatever they wanted yet again
FOX–NHRA Drag Racing
Well NBC is back again with Olympics coverage which means no shot at NASCAR on NBC. The NASCAR race winds up on the USA Network which is a first. FOX again shows up with some racing coverage which surprises me.
Race 24–Bristol
NBC–Olympics
CBS—New and last Rush Hour and 48 hours repeats.
ABC–Dr. Ken repeat, 20/20 repeat, new Boston EMS
Fox–Hotel Hell repeat.
Well this is the last weekend for Olympic coverage which also means no shot at NASCAR on NBC. The NASCAR race is somehow on NBC Sports while USA Network does evening hours Olympic coverage.
Race 25–Michigan
NBC–Rallycross and Volleyball
CBS–Bull Riding and Golf
ABC–Little league World Series
Fox–College football preview and NFL pre season football
Back from Olympics coverage and all four main networks are loaded up with sports coverage. The thing is the Michigan race was in the same timeslot as all the NBC sports coverage even if Volleyball was live so a network swap could have occurred.
Race 26–Darlington
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS–60 Minutes, Big Brother, Brain Dead
ABC–NCAA Football
FOX–Repeats
Finally NBC is back to airing a NASCAR race which is great. ABC and CBS had new stuff as well while Fox on Sunday night had repeats.
Race 27–Richmond
NBC–America’s Got Talent, and new Aquarius
CBS–show repeats
ABC–NCAA Football
FOX–NCAA Football
Well two networks aired sports, but not NBC on Saturday night. You could have shifted the Aquarius season out a week, but that was probably not going to happen.
Race 28–Chicagoland
NBC–LPGA Golf, Rally Cross, Paralympics coverage
CBS–NFL Football
ABC—Whatever they wanted.
FOX–NFL Football and MLS coverage
Finally NBC shows up with Paralympics coverage for the first time of the event on what would be the final weekend of coverage for it. The problem here is Rallycross coverage starts at the same time as NASCAR coverage on NBC Sports. I say NASCAR could have aired in this race.
Race 28–New Hampshire
NBC–PGA Golf
CBS–NFL Football
ABC–SC Feature and X-Games
FOX–NFL and UFC
All Networks had some sort of sports coverage which is nice. Golf was so important that NASCAR was never going to air.
Race 29–Dover
NBC–Ryder Cup golf
CBS–NFL Football and Bullriding
ABC–X-Games stuff
FOX–NFL Football
All networks had some sort of sports coverage which is nice. Golf was so important that NASCAR was never going to air yet again.
Race 30–Charlotte
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS–NCIS Repeats and New 48 Hours
ABC–NCAA Football
FOX–NCAA Football
Well three networks aired sports and one network did have a new show to air so I have nothing to really complain about here.
Race 31–Kansas
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS–NFL Football and Bull Riding
ABC–X-Games stuff
FOX–NFL Football
Well all four networks aired sports and I like it. Nothing to complain about.
Race 32–Talladega
NBC–Skating and F1 Race
CBS–NFL Football
ABC–X-games stuff and Lumberjack competition
FOX–NFL Football
Well All 4 four networks aired sports, BUTTT what happened to NASCAR here?? The F1 race and Skating are both live from the USA, but it has to take place instead of NASCAR which was on air yesterday on FOX for the truck series race!?!?! FAIL!!!
Race 33–Martinsville
NBC–Live Soccer and Live F1 race
CBS–NFL Football
ABC–X-games and Lumberjack competition
FOX–NFL Football and MLB
Well all 4 networks aired some sports, BUTTT what happened here to NASCAR again this week?? Sure the F1 race is live from Mexico, but the whole NBC lineup could be swapped out for NBC Sports coverage of the Sprint Cup race. Another Total fail!!
Race 34–Texas
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS–NFL Football
FOX–NFL Football
ABC–X Games and NYC Marathon replay.
All 4 networks aired sports and this time got it right by airing the NASCAR race.
Race 35–Phoenix
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS–NFL Football
FOX–NFL Football
ABC–X Games coverage
All 4 networks aired sports although ABC was very light on coverage again and for the second week in a row got it right by airing the NASCAR race.
Race 36–Miami
NBC–NASCAR Race
CBS–NFL Football
FOX–NFL Football
ABC–LPGA Golf
ALL 4 networks aired sports and ABC did not limp in with coverage. NBC gets it right once again.
7 Aired races on NBC
3 Aired other sporting event at same time as NASCAR with shot to air on NBC.
8 Aired other sporting event at same time as NASCAR with no shot on NBC.
1 Aired non sporting event at same time as NASCAR with possible shot on NBC.
To sum up NBC slate of TV we get another OTA TV fail. Sure the summer Olympics killed off a shot at an OTA race or two, but even then not enough races aired on NBC. Even F1 races got to air live when NASCAR races were on the same time which is not something I really like. Another total fail and it looks like we will never get close to a full season of OTA NASCAR races ever.
Xfinity Race–Mid Ohio
Okay so this is one NASCAR Xfinity race, but since it was during the Olympics I just had to write this one up as a total fail. The race is supposed to be on the USA network due to NBC Sports Olympics coverage. I got no problem with that. The Argentina vrs Brazil basketball game that goes into overtime and past the 3PM time slot I also have no problems with that. The one thing that makes this a full on total fail is that CNBC that aired some UK soccer action until 3pm also had Olympics coverage that was starting at 5PM! Two full freaking hours before the coverage is support to start on that network all they can air is info commercials!?!?!? Every NASCAR fan should be pissed off at this. The basketball game goes into a 2OT game that was so long the pre race show does not even get to air on the USA network. The race even goes green and goes until like lap 2 before the USA Network even starts to air the race. NBC and NASCAR had months to prepare for this and dropped the ball big time. This is a race that should have aired on CNBC with the 5PM CNBC Olympics coverage moved over to the USA Network or at the very least the first like 35 minutes of NASCAR coverage which would have included the pre race show coverage air on CNBC.
To sum up two years looking at this data you are just not going to get the OTA NASCAR coverage we need. FOX networks could air way more OTA coverage. NBC though does air so much more different sports coverage than FOX does and some of the coverage goes back decades that makes it hard to get mores OTA racing on NBC. Plus those races are more end of season races which are more important than some of the FOX aired races. I loved when ABC aired the final ten races of the season. I just do not think we will ever get back to that again anytime soon.
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